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One-Punch Man Season 3 has been facing a wave of negative attention, with Episode 6 becoming the lowest-rated anime episode ever on IMDb. Most of the criticism targets the animation quality and overall production, which many viewers have called unfinished or lifeless.
In the middle of this backlash, veteran animator Hashimoto shared his thoughts online, saying the anger aimed at the show should not be directed at the staff working on it. Posting on his Bluesky account, he wrote (via machine translation), "When it comes to One-Punch Man, the criticism from overseas viewers who are, frankly, watching it through illegal means is overwhelming. I think the people on the production floor are probably feeling really hurt. None of us are trying to make something poorly, we all share the same intention, yet we get attacked over tiny details. Where are our motivation and morale supposed to go?"
He continued, "I will say this clearly: in the coming weeks, something we put our hearts and souls into will be broadcast. If people call it trash or a slideshow, then there is nothing we can do, but we worked to the very limit. So please think about the creators behind the visuals. We are not doing this as volunteers, this is our job. The more we are bullied, the more staff will disappear. Without fail."
Some fans pushed back at his mention of overseas piracy, saying they were watching the show legally. Hashimoto later replied that he was unaware of how easily accessible legal streaming options were outside Japan.
Hashimoto has worked across major titles including Your Name, Ghost in the Shell, Ponyo, and Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Production issues surrounding Season 3 have been discussed since before broadcast. Early previews showed characters talking with little to no motion, a complaint that carried over into the aired episodes.
Director Shinpei Nagai also tried to address concerns about his involvement. In a long post on X, he explained that he came from a background of freelance work and assistant roles before directing Hiiro no Kakera, experimenting with hybrid 3D and 2D animation on Aquarion Logos, spending time at a 3D studio where he contributed to Altered Carbon, and working on projects like Gangsta. and Samurai Flamenco. He said that after collaborating with J.C. Staff on storyboards and episode direction, he was chosen for One-Punch Man Season 3 and wanted to implement a workflow that blended 3D and 2D to squeeze out more production time. Nagai admitted he kept quiet because he feared being judged for not having a headline achievement, and apologised for the secrecy, saying the team was doing everything it could on site.
Once the season aired and fan anger escalated, Nagai deleted his X account, saying ongoing harassment made it impossible to stay online. Before leaving, he wrote that some users pretending to support him were baiting him into violating NDAs or twisting his words for attention. He said the constant hostility was affecting his mental health and harming the staff and creators, calling such behaviour "unforgivable."
One-Punch Man began as a webcomic about Saitama, a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch, leading to a story full of comedy and action. The manga adaptation with Yusuke Murata's art exploded in popularity, and so did the first season of the anime, which was animated by Madhouse. Season 2, which was overtaken by J.C.Staff, received criticism for visuals and pacing, and Season 3 has faced even harsher reactions.
One-Punch Man Season 3 is streaming on Crunchyroll, Muse India, and Netflix.
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